ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT SURGICAL FIRES

Surgical Team Communication Is Essential

The applicability of these recommendations must be considered individually for each patient.
At the Start of Each Surgery:
 Enriched O2 and N2O atmospheres can vastly increase flammability of drapes, plastics, and hair. Be aware of possible
O2 enrichment under the drapes near the surgical site and in the fenestration, especially during
head/face/neck/upper-chest surgery.
 Do not apply drapes until all flammable preps have fully dried; soak up spilled or pooled agent.
 Fiberoptic light sources can start fires: Complete all cable connections before activating the source. Place the source in
standby mode when disconnecting cables.
 Moisten sponges to make them ignition resistant in oropharyngeal and pulmonary surgery.

During Head, Face, Neck, and Upper-Chest Surgery:

 Use only air for open delivery to the face if the patient can maintain a safe blood O2 saturation without supplemental O2.
 If the patient cannot maintain a safe blood O2 saturation without extra O2, secure the airway with a laryngeal mask
airway or tracheal tube.
Exceptions: Where patient verbal responses may be required during surgery (e.g., carotid artery surgery, neurosurgery,
pacemaker insertion) and where open O2 delivery is required to keep the patient safe:
— At all times, deliver the minimum O2 concentration necessary for adequate oxygenation.
— Begin with a 30% delivered O2 concentration and increase as necessary.
— For unavoidable open O2 delivery above 30%, deliver 5 to 10 L/min of air under drapes to wash out excess O2.
— Stop supplemental O2 at least one minute before and during use of electrosurgery, electrocautery, or laser, if
possible. Surgical team communication is essential for this recommendation.
— Use an adherent incise drape, if possible, to help isolate the incision from possible O2-enriched atmospheres
beneath the drapes.
— Keep fenestration towel edges as far from the incision as possible.
— Arrange drapes to minimize O2 buildup underneath.
— Coat head hair and facial hair (e.g., eyebrows, beard, moustache) within the fenestration with water-soluble surgical
lubricating jelly to make it nonflammable.
— For coagulation, use bipolar electrosurgery, not monopolar electrosurgery.

During Oropharyngeal Surgery (e.g., tonsillectomy):

 Scavenge deep within the oropharynx with a metal suction cannula to catch leaking O2 and N2O.
 Moisten gauze or sponges and keep them moist, including those used with uncuffed tracheal tubes.

During Tracheostomy:
 Do not use electrosurgery to cut into the trachea.

During Bronchoscopic Surgery:

 If the patient requires supplemental O2, keep the delivered O2 below 30%. Use inhalation/exhalation gas monitoring
(e.g., with an O2 analyzer) to confirm the proper concentration.

When Using Electrosurgery, Electrocautery, or Laser:

 The surgeon should be made aware of open O2 use. Surgical team
discussion about preventive measures before use of electrosurgery,
electrocautery, and laser is indicated.
 Activate the unit only when the active tip is in view (especially if looking
through a microscope or endoscope).
 Deactivate the unit before the tip leaves the surgical site.
 Place electrosurgical electrodes in a holster or another location off the
patient when not in active use (i.e., when not needed within the next few
moments).
 Place lasers in standby mode when not in active use.
 Do not place rubber catheter sleeves over electrosurgical electrodes.

®
Developed in collaboration with the
MS09445_2

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation.

Source: New Clinical Guide to Surgical Fire Prevention. Health Devices 2009 Oct;38(10):319. ©2009 ECRI Institute
More information on surgical fire prevention, including a downloadable copy of this poster, is available at www.ecri.org/surgical_fires